Andrea Horwath facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Her Worship
Andrea Horwath
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Horwath in 2022
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| 58th Mayor of Hamilton | |
| Assumed office November 15, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Fred Eisenberger |
| Leader of the Official Opposition | |
| In office June 29, 2018 – June 28, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Vic Fedeli |
| Succeeded by | Peter Tabuns |
| Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party | |
| In office March 7, 2009 – June 28, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Howard Hampton |
| Succeeded by | Peter Tabuns (interim) |
| Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Centre (Hamilton East; 2004–2007) |
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| In office May 13, 2004 – August 15, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Dominic Agostino |
| Succeeded by | Sarah Jama |
| Hamilton City Councillor | |
| In office December 1, 1997 – June 16, 2004 Serving with Ron Corsini (1997–2000)
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| Preceded by | Vince Agro Bill McCulloch |
| Succeeded by | Bob Bratina |
| Constituency | Ward Two |
| Personal details | |
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Andrea Lynn Horwath
October 24, 1962 Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations |
Ontario New Democratic (provincial) |
| Domestic partner | Ben Leonetti (c. 1985–2010) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | McMaster University (BA) |
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Andrea Horwath (born October 24, 1962) is a Canadian politician. She is currently the Mayor of Hamilton, a role she has held since 2022. Before becoming mayor, Horwath was a very important leader in Ontario politics.
She led the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2009 to 2022. During this time, she also served as the Leader of the Official Opposition in Ontario from 2018 to 2022. This means her party was the second-largest in the provincial government.
Horwath first started her political career in 1997. She was elected to the Hamilton City Council. In 2004, she became a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Hamilton Centre. She held this seat until 2022.
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Andrea Horwath's Early Life and Education
Andrea Lynn Horwath grew up in Stoney Creek, Ontario. Her father, Andrew, came to Canada from Slovakia and worked at a car factory. Her mother, Diane, has French and Irish family roots.
Andrea went to McMaster University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She first studied human resources but became very interested in labour studies. To pay for her studies, she worked part-time as a waitress. After university, she worked helping people with reading and writing, and also in community organizing.
Starting Her Political Journey
Andrea Horwath first ran for a federal election in 1997. She was a candidate for the NDP in Hamilton West. Even though she didn't win, she did much better than previous NDP candidates in that area. This made her more well-known in Hamilton.
Becoming a City Councillor
Later in 1997, she was elected to the Hamilton City Council for Ward Two. She won against two people who had been councillors for over 20 years! She became a strong voice for progressive ideas in the city. She was re-elected to the council in 2000 and 2003. As a city councillor, she helped manage waste and worked with a non-profit housing group.
Moving to Provincial Politics
In 2004, Andrea Horwath was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. This happened during a special election in the Hamilton East area. She won by a large margin, getting 63.6% of the votes. This victory helped the NDP gain more seats in the provincial legislature.
In the 2007 election, Horwath ran in a new area called Hamilton Centre. This new area included parts of her old riding and her former city council ward. She easily won this election.
Leading the Ontario NDP Party
On November 7, 2008, Andrea Horwath announced she wanted to become the leader of the Ontario NDP. The election for the party leader happened in March 2009. Horwath won on the third round of voting with 60.4% of the votes. She became the first woman to lead the Ontario NDP.
The 2011 Provincial Election
In the 2011 provincial election, the NDP gained more support under Horwath's leadership. The party won over 20% of the public vote, which was the first time since 1995. They also almost doubled their seats, electing 17 members to the legislature. The election resulted in the Liberal government having a minority government, meaning the NDP had a lot of influence.
The 2014 Provincial Election
In May 2014, Horwath announced that the NDP would vote against the Liberal government's budget. This led to a new provincial election being called for June 12, 2014. In the 2014 election, the NDP kept its 21 seats. However, the Liberals won a majority, so the NDP no longer held the balance of power.
The 2018 Provincial Election
Horwath led the NDP in her third election as party leader in 2018. She made several promises during the campaign. These included a plan for universal dental care and prescription drugs, and affordable child care. She also promised to bring Hydro One back under public ownership.
The NDP's support grew in public opinion polls during May 2018. This led to more media attention for the party. After the election, the NDP became the Official Opposition. This was the second-highest number of seats the party had ever won. The NDP won almost all the seats in old Toronto, Hamilton, and Niagara.
The 2022 Provincial Election
In April 2022, Horwath and the NDP shared their plans for the 2022 election. Their campaign focused on increasing money for social programs and government services. They proposed to pay for this by raising taxes on businesses and high-income earners. The NDP aimed to reduce class sizes, increase welfare payments, and hire more healthcare and education staff.
Horwath was re-elected in Hamilton Centre. The NDP remained the Official Opposition, but they lost 9 seats. On the night of June 2, 2022, Horwath announced she would resign as the leader of the Ontario NDP. Her resignation became official on June 28, 2022. She then resigned as the MPP for Hamilton Centre on August 15, 2022.
Becoming Mayor of Hamilton
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On July 26, 2022, Andrea Horwath announced she would run for Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario. She was elected mayor on October 24, 2022. Horwath officially took office on November 15, 2022. She is the first woman to be elected mayor in Hamilton's history.
Her Time as Mayor
As mayor, Andrea Horwath has been involved in several important city decisions. In September 2024, she worked to make National Day of Truth and Reconciliation a city holiday.
City Finances
In 2023, the city council approved a 5.8% increase in property taxes. The housing budget also increased by 30%. In 2024, property taxes increased by another 5.79%.
Housing Initiatives
In April 2023, Hamilton city council declared a state of emergency. This was due to issues with opioids, homelessness, and mental health in the city.
In April 2024, Horwath used her "strong mayor powers" to approve a plan to build affordable housing. This was for a parking lot in Stoney Creek, even though the city council had rejected it. Hamilton's ethics group later found no wrongdoing by Horwath in this decision. The provincial government had given Hamilton $17.5 million for reaching its housing goals in 2023.
In August 2024, she supported a plan for sanctioned encampments. These would offer tiny homes to people experiencing homelessness. The city later banned tents in public parks. Some unhoused residents sued the city, saying their charter rights were violated. However, the Ontario Superior Court ruled in the city's favor in December 2024. The city also approved building an outdoor shelter on Barton Street, which was built in December 2024.
Personal Life
Andrea Horwath lives in Hamilton with her son, Julian, who was born in November 1992. Julian is a rapper. In 2011, Horwath spoke publicly about the end of her long-term relationship with Julian's father, Ben Leonetti. They had lived together for 25 years and separated in 2010.
In 2025, Horwath had a fall outside Hamilton City Hall during very windy weather. She needed surgery and treatment for her injuries.
Awards and Recognition
In March 2012, Andrea Horwath received the EVE award. This award is given by Equal Voice, an organization that encourages women to get involved in politics. Many women from different levels of government have received this award.
Images for kids
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Andrea Horwath's signature
See also
In Spanish: Andrea Horwath para niños
